Chapter 13: Seriousness and Attention
"Um... I just wanted to remind you not to block the doorway and not leave. After all, we can't disturb Moeha's rest..."
Perhaps knowing she was in the wrong this time, Eriri, who was originally on equal footing with Kasumigaoka Utaha in terms of momentum, now seemed a bit lacking in confidence.
"Is that so? Well, now we won't be disturbing Moeha, so it's time we settled this score."
Thinking about the strange sensation in her body just now, even Kasumigaoka Utaha couldn't help but blush. After all, her waist was her most sensitive spot. Although Eriri had only poked it, she wouldn't forget the feeling that poke had brought.
"So, it's time to pay back..."
Thinking about what she was about to do, a hint of a smile appeared on the Black-haired Girl's face. Having finally encountered this opportunity, she wasn't about to give it up.
"Um... Aki-san said he'll be here soon."
Just as Kasumigaoka Utaha's hand was about to fall on Eriri's head, Kato Megumi, sitting on the sofa, suddenly held up her phone. The screen was still on, displaying a message from Aki Tomoya.
"Then let's get ready and get into the zone. After all, this is our first seminar; it's better to produce some results."
Aragaki Takiya, standing to the side, also held up the book in his hand and suggested. Since the book about romance games had been taken by Kato Megumi earlier, he could only switch to another one. The book he held now was about programming. Although he might not necessarily be able to learn it, he would be satisfied as long as he could be of help.
"Well, for the sake of game production, I'll let you off for now..."
Hearing the news from Kato Megumi and the suggestion from Aragaki Takiya, Kasumigaoka Utaha thought about it and decided to give up her plan for revenge for now. Although she was in a bit of a bad mood, considering the sleeping Aragaki Moeha and the soon-to-arrive Aki Tomoya, it was better to wait.
Five minutes later... "Knock, knock, knock!!"
While everyone was busy with their own tasks, a sudden knocking sound came from outside the Apartment door. In the originally quiet Living Room, this sudden knocking was like a bolt from the blue. The consequence was that Eriri, who had been quietly drawing, instantly bristled.
"It must be that guy Tomoya!!!"
At this moment, Eriri was like a powder keg. Not only because the atmosphere for her quiet drawing had been disturbed, but even worse, Aragaki Moeha was still sleeping in the Bedroom. Eriri had long since come to see her as her own younger sister, and Aki Tomoya's behavior right now had walked right into her line of fire.
"I'm going to deal with him!"
The enraged girl left behind these words and went to open the door alone.
"Click~"
Outside, the Apartment door had just been opened. Aki Tomoya was about to say something when he was startled by Eriri's face full of rage.
"Th-That... I bought drinks..."
Seeing Eriri's angry look, Aki Tomoya didn't understand why, but he still weakly held up the bag in his hand... "I'm very sorry!! This time it really was all my fault..."
In the Living Room, before Aki Tomoya even sat down, he bowed and apologized. However, his somewhat loud voice once again sparked Eriri's dissatisfaction.
"Keep it down, you idiot Tomoya! Moeha is still sleeping in the Bedroom!"
"Eh? Who's Moeha?"
"She's Aragaki's younger female cousin, a very cute child. We all like her very much."
Kato Megumi, standing to the side, added softly.
"Ah?! Sorry, I didn't know..."
After hearing Kato Megumi's explanation, Aki Tomoya quickly lowered his voice. At the same time, he noticed the books in the hands of Aragaki Takiya and Kato Megumi, and for a moment, a sense of guilt welled up in his heart.
"Sorry, today I..."
Aki Tomoya was about to say something, but he was directly interrupted by Aragaki Takiya beside him.
"You've said'sorry' too many times. Let's just have a good discussion on how to produce the game."
"Eh? Okay, no problem!"
Upon hearing what Aragaki Takiya said, Aki Tomoya instantly got into the spirit. However, when he spoke what was on his mind, the room fell into silence.
"Rinri-kun, according to the plan you mentioned, producing this game will cost at least millions of yen."
Kasumigaoka Utaha said gloomily.
"Pffft!! How can that be? I'm just a High School Student, I don't have that much money..."
"Huh? The first time I sold a doujinshi, I made quite a bit of money..."
Eriri, standing to the side, was counting on her fingers, completely oblivious to the nearly despairing Aki Tomoya next to her.
"The first time my light novel was published, it also sold for quite a bit. Let me see, it was about..."
Hearing Eriri report her profits from selling doujinshi, Kasumigaoka Utaha was not to be outdone. She also reported her income from writing. Suddenly, the light novel seminar they were holding seemed more like a display of their respective incomes.
"It's completely impossible!"
At this point, Aki Tomoya was in despair and could only squat in the corner drawing circles, while Kato Megumi, sitting on the sofa, was whispering with Aragaki Takiya.
"By the way, have Eriri and Senior Kasumigaoka always been this impressive?"
Looking at the two of them stating facts, Aragaki Takiya realized for the first time the gap between ordinary people and geniuses.
"Well, Aki-san said that the two of them are indeed quite amazing. Senior Kasumigaoka's pen name seems to be Kasumiko, and as for Eriri, I only know she seems to be called something like Kashiwagi Eri. I don't know much about the rest."
"Kasumiko?"
Sitting to the side, Aragaki Takiya suddenly caught the key point in Kato Megumi's words. However, he just quietly glanced at Kasumigaoka Utaha and didn't say anything more.
"It seems only Kato and I are a bit more ordinary, but that seems quite nice too."
"But I think you're very impressive too, Aragaki. At least you've done part-time jobs that I've never even touched; even my pocket money is given to me by my mom."
As if thinking of something, Kato Megumi also sighed softly. It seemed that among all of them, she was the most mediocre.
"That was just out of necessity for survival. Besides, Kato, you have many strengths. It's too early to lack confidence in yourself..."
Facing Kato Megumi's lack of confidence, Aragaki Takiya didn't say much more. He just picked up the book in his hand again, but this process didn't last long. Soon, his reading mode was interrupted by the intrusion of Aki Tomoya's voice.
"I'll have the money ready, I promise, yeah!"
"Ah~ this guy is at it again..."
Listening to Aki Tomoya's passionate vow, Aragaki Takiya felt a sense of boredom. Many things cannot be accomplished just by shouting slogans... "I hope you're not like that..."